Become a Trustee
Every benefit our members rely on is guided by trustees who stepped forward to serve. If you've ever wondered what that role actually involves, and whether it might be right for you, this page walks through it from the ground up.
Why Trustees Matter
Our four values guide everything Benefits of Film does, and trustees carry two of them directly.
Engage. We build community through open communication, resources, and meaningful updates. Trustees are a large part of how that happens.
Educate. We empower members with knowledge of their benefits, enhancing financial and benefits literacy. Trustees are expected to keep learning themselves, so they can pass that knowledge on.
Who Can Become a Trustee
Every trustee began exactly where you are now: a member of Local 891 who wanted to help the plan stay strong. No legal, financial, or governance background is required. What matters is this:
Commitment. A genuine dedication to serving the membership.
Connection. An understanding of what members actually need from their benefits.
Openness. A willingness to listen, learn, and grow into parts of the role that are new.
Vision. An eye for what members will need not just today, but in the years ahead.
Accountability. A readiness to hold yourself and fellow trustees responsible to the membership.
Collaboration. The ability to work well with fellow trustees, staff, and outside partners.
Labour relations experience and industry knowledge are helpful, but neither is expected on day one. Both are built through orientation and ongoing trustee education.
You're Never Figuring This Out Alone
New trustees are supported from the start, not left to find their footing on their own.
Every new trustee receives a formal orientation and an orientation manual covering board policy and responsibilities. You'll also have direct access to the people who support the board day-to-day: the Chair, senior trustees, the plan administrator, and the actuary. Asking them questions is expected, not a sign you're behind.
What the Role Involves
Trusteeship carries fiduciary duties — legal responsibilities that guide how every decision gets made.
Standard of care. Uphold integrity in every decision; you are held to a higher standard than you'd apply to your own affairs.
Act impartially. Apply the plan's rules fairly and consistently across the whole membership.
No delegation. Advice from staff and consultants is always available, but the responsibility for each decision stays with the board.
Avoid conflicts of interest. Always act in members' best interests, and step back when personal interests pull against that.
Time and Term
Trustees serve six-year terms, a length chosen deliberately to give the board continuity and strong leadership. The role includes regular board meetings, some preparation between them, and occasional committee work. It's a genuine commitment, weighed carefully before you begin, and one the board is always glad to talk through with anyone considering it.
Continuing to Learn
Trustee education continues for as long as you serve. Ongoing learning includes:
Inside education. Regular updates from our benefits consultants, industry news monitoring, and a Governance Manual that's kept actively current.
Outside education. Seminars and training through the International Foundation of Employee Benefits (IFEBP) and the Canadian Pension and Benefits Institute (CPBI).
A formal designation path. Foundations of Trust Management, followed by Advanced Trustee Management Standards, and, for trustees who go further, Master of Trust Management Standards.
No trustee is expected to arrive knowing all of this. The path is built to be walked one step at a time.
Common Questions
Do I need a background in HR, law, or finance?
No. These are strengths some trustees bring, but they're not requirements. Orientation and ongoing education are designed to close that gap.
What if I disagree with the rest of the board?
Disagreement is a normal part of governance. The Governance Manual sets out a clear, respectful process for working through it, so no decision comes down to who argues loudest.
Is there a code of conduct?
Yes. It keeps professionalism and integrity consistent across the board, regardless of who is serving in a given term.
How much of this can I learn as I go?
Most of it. Orientation covers the fundamentals, and the education path is designed to build expertise gradually over the course of a term, not all at once.
Get in Touch
The best next step is a conversation. Speak with a current trustee, your Business Representative, or reach out to the Union Office directly.
Union Office
Julie Jensen & Kelley Browne, Health Benefits Representatives
1640 Boundary Road, Burnaby, BC V5K 4V4
604.664.8914
benefitsoffilm@iatse.com